Open Access

Anticancer effects of salvianolic acid A through multiple signaling pathways (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Cheng-Xia Li
    • Qi Xu
    • Shi-Ting Jiang
    • Dan Liu
    • Chao Tang
    • Wen-Li Yang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: April 17, 2025     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2025.13541
  • Article Number: 176
  • Copyright: © Li et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Salvia miltiorrhiza), commonly referred to as Danshen, is a well‑known herb in traditional Chinese medicine, the active ingredients of which are mostly categorized as water soluble and lipid soluble. Salvianolic acids are the major water‑soluble phenolic acid constituents of Danshen; salvianolic acid B is the most prevalent, with salvianolic acid A (SAA) being the next most predominant form. SAA offers a wide array of pharmacological benefits, including cardiovascular protection, and anti‑inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral and anticancer activities. SAA is currently undergoing phase III clinical trials for diabetic peripheral neuropathy and has shown protective benefits against cardiovascular illnesses; furthermore, its safety and effectiveness are encouraging. By targeting several signaling pathways, preventing cell cycle progression, tumor cell migration, invasion and metastasis, normalizing the tumor vasculature and encouraging cell apoptosis, SAA can also prevent the growth of malignancies. In addition, it enhances sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs, and alleviates their toxicity and side effects. However, the broad therapeutic use of SAA has been somewhat limited by its low content in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge and the difficulty of its extraction techniques. Therefore, the present review focuses on the potential mechanisms of SAA in tumor prevention and treatment. With the anticipation that SAA will serve a notable role in clinical applications in the future, these discoveries may offer a scientific basis for the combination of SAA with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs in the treatment of cancer, and could establish a foundation for the development of SAA as an anticancer drug.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

July-2025
Volume 32 Issue 1

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Li C, Xu Q, Jiang S, Liu D, Tang C and Yang W: Anticancer effects of salvianolic acid A through multiple signaling pathways (Review). Mol Med Rep 32: 176, 2025.
APA
Li, C., Xu, Q., Jiang, S., Liu, D., Tang, C., & Yang, W. (2025). Anticancer effects of salvianolic acid A through multiple signaling pathways (Review). Molecular Medicine Reports, 32, 176. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2025.13541
MLA
Li, C., Xu, Q., Jiang, S., Liu, D., Tang, C., Yang, W."Anticancer effects of salvianolic acid A through multiple signaling pathways (Review)". Molecular Medicine Reports 32.1 (2025): 176.
Chicago
Li, C., Xu, Q., Jiang, S., Liu, D., Tang, C., Yang, W."Anticancer effects of salvianolic acid A through multiple signaling pathways (Review)". Molecular Medicine Reports 32, no. 1 (2025): 176. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2025.13541